What is an EPD in the context of LEED?

An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a standardized document that provides transparent and comparable information about the environmental impact of a product throughout its life cycle. In the context of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), EPDs are critical because they help project teams make informed decisions regarding the materials they select for construction and renovation projects. EPDs are grounded in life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies, which assess the environmental effects from raw material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, use, and disposal.

The inclusion of EPDs in LEED projects supports sustainable practices by encouraging the use of products that have been assessed for their environmental impact, thus contributing to lower carbon footprints, reduced resource depletion, and enhanced environmental performance overall. By requiring evidence of a product's lifecycle impacts, LEED helps advance transparency in the building material supply chain and promotes the use of more sustainable materials, aligning with the overarching goals of environmental stewardship and sustainability that the LEED program promotes.